Extruded coin slot device

ABSTRACT

A one piece extruded aluminum coin slot device including a plurality of parallel walls and a housing for the operating parts of a vending machine. The plurality of walls form slots for coins of various sizes which are to be delivered by the slots to a particular location in order to actuate a lever mechanism. Tapered wall end surfaces in each slot tends to prevent coins from lodging in the device. The wall construction and arrangement which forms the slots also forms an access opening for facilitating easy removal of lodged coins or other lodged matter in the slots.

D United States Patent 1191 Albright 1451 Apr. 22, 1975 EXTRUDED COINSLOT DEVICE l.647.l80 11/1927 Kindrat 194/1 K [75] inventor: Henry J.Albright, West Des Moines, Iowa :rn nury iranuner-Jiigabert B.EReI:(evesk sszsrant- .\-am1ner-- omas ocovs y Asslgneei f Engineering Des Momes-Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henderson & StrOm owa [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973[57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 423,109 A one piece extruded aluminum coinslot device includin a lurality of parallel walls and a housing for g P[52] U S Cl 194 K the operating parts of a vending machme. The plural-[51] in} .CI 60" 1/04 y of walls form slots for coins of various Sizeswhich [58] Field of Search n 194/} E 1 K; 33/3 R are to be delivered bythe slots to a particular location 133/3 C 30 l R l A 8 A 1n order toactuate a lever mechanism. Tapered wall end surfaces in each slot tendsto prevent coins from [561 CM 131 12156111 13135 "21322 331's 2Y8; $51.?113221;; UNlTED STATES PATENTS opening for facilitating easy removal oflodged coins g or other lodged matter in the slots. 1365: 169 1/1921Egan 1353/3 R 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures EXTRUDED COIN SLOT DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tovending machines. and more particularly to a coin slot device for avending machine.

In the vending machine field a large volume of highly complicated andsophisticated mechanisms have been developed. The sheer complexity ofthese mechanisms is one of the most critical problems in this field. Thedevelopment of vending machines for handling and registering varioustypes and numbers of coins adds further complexity to this art.

It has been customary in the prior art to keep all coin slots in avending machine together because the coins are usually fed into avending machine at one position and are delivered to a receiving point.or points which are generally in close proximity, at another position.The coin slot devices used for delivering different sizes of coins to adesired location as used in this art has been to merely duplicate a coinslot which would be used on a single coin receiving mechanism and tocompound the coin slot aspects of such a device by merely puttingseveral of these coin slot devices together. Such a prior art type ofcoin slot is usually cast or made from sheet metal, and it is thenfastened to another similar coin slot, such as by bolting or welding.Various sizes and numbers of coin slots have been put together in thisfashion.

The problems with the above mentioned manner of making coin slots in theprior art is obvious, due to the complexity, duplication and theassembly requirements which are needed to produce these devices.Additionally, maintenance of this prior art type of compounded coin slotis difficult. If for example a coin is lodged in one of the slots, theentire coin slot assembly must be disassembled in order to gain accessto the lodged coin, in order to remove it and free the passageway of thecoin slot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a one piececoin slot device which provides access to all of several coin slotswithout requiring the coin slot device to be disassembled. Additionally,the coin slot construction of the present invention tends to preventcoins from lodging in the device because the central portion of eachslot is wider than the remainder of the slot to thereby produce afunneling effect for coins passing through the device. The constructionof this device is such that the same cross-section may be used along theentire length of the device, to thereby allow the coin slot device to bemanufactured by an extrusion process.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coin slot devicewhich is capable of receiving various sizes of coins and delivering themto a desired location.

Another object is to provide a multi-size coin slot device which can bemanufactured by an extrusion process.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mu!- ti-size coin slotdevice having an access opening for freeing lodged coins withoutdisassembling the coin slot.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a coin slotwhich will have a funneling effect upon a coin without requiringexpensive casting or machining of the coin slot device itself.

Other objects, advantages. and novel features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4-4of FIG. 3 and shows a coin passing from the coin slot to a lever of thevending machine registering mechanism;

FIG. 5 shows a coin entering the coin slot device and illustrates thefunneling effect of tapered end portions 27; and

FIG. 6 shows a prior art coin funneling arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings. a vendingmachine is indicated generally by numeral 10. A coin sorting mechanism11, of which several types are well known in this art. is shownreceiving a coin and delivering it to the coin slot device 12 of theinstant invention. The coin slot device 12 receives the coin in anappropriate slot and delivers it to an appropriate lever below eachrespective slot. for example lever 13 as shown in FIG. 4.

The operation of the credit register mechanism associated with lever 13and other associated levers (not shown) will be fully understood byreference to copending application Ser. No. 320.304, Filed Jan. 2. 1973now U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,626. The credit register mechanism itself formsno part of the present invention, and accordingly will not be referredto in detail. Another credit register mechanism which could be used incombination with the coin slot device of this invention is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 2,435,933.

FIG. I shows an access opening 15 indicated generally by an arrow inFIG. 1. Access opening 15 provides ready access to slots 16 19 of coinslot device 12. The access opening 15 and the coin slots 16 19 areformed by extending walls 21 on oneside of access opening 15 andextending walls 22 26 on the other side of access opening 15.

Slot 16 serves as the slot for a nickel coin, slot 17 for a dime coin,slot 18 for a quarter coin. and slot 19 for a 50 cent coin. The lever 13under the quarter slot 18 is essentially duplicated by levers under eachof the other slots l6, l7 and 19. A coin 29, such as the quarter passingthrough the coin slot as shown in FIG. 4, serves to pivot the lever 13downwardly as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. This pivoting of lever 13causes the credit register mechanism to register an amount corresponding to the value of coin 29, as will be understood by reference toapplicants above said co-pending application. In general, the otherparts of the credit register mechanism, as shown generally in thehousing of coin slot device 12, is a main registering shaft 28. themovement of which is regulated by register wheel 30 and wheels 31 33.

FIG. 5 shows the funneling effect of tapered free edges 27 which areformed on each of the walls 21 26 which serve to form the slots 16 19.This funneling construction is to be distinguished from the prior artcoin funneling devices such as that shown in FIG. 6. Coin slot device 34of FIG. 6 has tapered portions 35 thereon which serve a coin funnelingfunction. A tepered portion 35 as shown in FIG. 6 may be made by castingit that way or by a later machining process. Such a casting process ormachining process is expensive and is obviated by the tapered free edgeconstruction as shown in FIG. 5 on walls 21 and 23. The tapered freeedge portions 27 serve to make a wider slot opening at the center ofeach slot to thereby accomplish the aforesaid funneling effect in astructure which can be formed by an inexpensive extrusion process.

Brackets 36 and 37 serve to mount the coin slot device 12 to the vendingmachine. It will be understood that the particular construction of thecoin slot device including thecoin slots and the mounting brackets areparticularly conducive to being formed by an extrusion process,particularly when the material used is aluminum. Such a constructionachieves all of the objects of this invention and eliminates expensiveassemblies and expensive machining.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that. within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

1 claim:

i l. A coin slot device comprising:

a housing;

a first wall connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other end" thereof;

a'second wall connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, said second walllying substantially in the same plane as said first wall;

: a third wall, connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other i 'endthereof. said third wallbeing spaced from said first and second walls;

a fourth wall connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, said fourth walllying substantially in thesame plane as said third wall whereby a firstcoin slot is formed between said first, second, third and fourth walls;and

coin supporting means connected to said housing and spaced from saidthird and fourth walls to form thereby a second coin slot whereby a coinpassing through the second coin slot is guided between said supportingmeans and said third and fourth walls.

2. A coin slot device as defined in claim 1 wherein said coin supportingmeans comprises:

La fifth wall connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other end thereof; and

a sixth wall connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other end thereof.

3. A coin slot as defined in claim 1 wherein said first, second, thirdand fourth walls are uniform in crosssectional shape along the lengththereof whereby the walls can be formed by extrusion.

4. A coin slot device as defined in claim 1 wherein said coin slotdevice is uniform in cross-sectional shape whereby it may be formed byextrusion.

5. A coin slot device as defined in claim 1 wherein said free edges ofsaid first and second walls are tapered in cross-section along thelength thereof.

6. A coin slot device as defined in claim 1 wherein the free edges ofsaid first, second, third and fourth walls forms an access means forfreeing coins which become lodged in said coin slot device.

7. A coin slot device as defined in claim 6 wherein said housing is of aone piece construction.

8. A coin slot device comprising:

a housing;

a first substantially planar wall connected to said housing at one endthereof and terminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, saidsecond wall lying in substantially the same plane as said first wall;

a second substantially planar wall connected to said housing at one endthereof and terminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, saidsecond wall lying in substantially the same plane as said first wall;

coin supporting means connected to said housing and spaced from saidfirst and second walls;

a coin slot opening disposed between the first and second substantiallyplanar walls and the coin supporting means, said coin slot openinghaving at least two substantially planar sides for guiding substantiallyflat sides of a coin; and

wherein the free edges of said first and second walls are thinner thanthe remainder of said first and second walls.

9. A coin slot device as defined in claim 8 wherein said free edges ofsaid first and second walls are of a tapered configuration incross-section.

10. A coin slot device as defined in claim 8 wherein an opening isdefined by a space between said support means and said first and secondwalls, said opening being wider at the free edges of said first andsecond walls because of the thinner configuration of said free edgeswith respect to said first and second walls, to thereby serve a guidingfunction for a coin passing through said coin slot device.

11. A coin slot device as defined in claim 8 wherein said coin slotopening is substantially rectangular in cross-sectional shape.

12. A coin slot device comprising:

a housing;

a first wall connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other end thereof;

a second wall connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, said second walllying in substantially the same plane as said first wall;

coin supporting means connected to said housing and spaced from saidfirst and second walls to form thereby a coin slot whereby a coinpassing through said coin slot is guided between said supporting meansand said first and second walls, and wherein the free edges of saidfirst and second walls are thinner than the remainder of said first andsecond walls;

5 V 6 a third wall connected to said housing at one end free edges ofsaid third and fourth walls are thinner thereof and terminating in afree edge at the other than the remainder of said third and fourthwalls. end thereof: and I 13. A coin slot device as defined in claim 12wherein a fourth wall connected to said housing at one end the freeedges of said first. second, third. and fourth thereof and terminatingin a free edge at the other 5 walls forms an access means for freeingcoins which beend thereof, said fourth wall lying in substantially comelodged in said coin slot device. the same plane as said third wall, andwherein the

1. A coin slot device comprising: a housing; a first wall connected tosaid housing at one end thereof and terminating in a free edge at theother end thereof; a second wall connected to said housing at one endthereof and terminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, saidsecond wall lying substantially in the same plane as said first wall; athird wall, connected to said housing at one end thereof and terminatingin a free edge at the other end thereof, said third wall being spacedfrom said first and second walls; a fourth wall connected to saidhousing at one end thereof and terminating in a free edge at the otherend thereof, said fourth wall lying substantially in the same plane assaid third wall whereby a first coin slot is formed between said first,second, third and fourth walls; and coin supporting means connected tosaid housing and spaced from said third and fourth walls to form therebya second coin slot whereby a coin passing through the second coin slotis guided between said supporting means and said third and fourthwalls.
 1. A coin slot device comprising: a housing; a first wallconnected to said housing at one end thereof and terminating in a freeedge at the other end thereof; a second wall connected to said housingat one end thereof and terminating in a free edge at the other endthereof, said second wall lying substantially in the same plane as saidfirst wall; a third wall, connected to said housing at one end thereofand terminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, said third wallbeing spaced from said first and second walls; a fourth wall connectedto said housing at one end thereof and terminating in a free edge at theother end thereof, said fourth wall lying substantially in the sameplane as said third wall whereby a first coin slot is formed betweensaid first, second, third and fourth walls; and coin supporting meansconnected to said housing and spaced from said third and fourth walls toform thereby a second coin slot whereby a coin passing through thesecond coin slot is guided between said supporting means and said thirdand fourth walls.
 2. A coin slot device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid coin supporting means comprises: a fifth wall connected to saidhousing at one end thereof and terminating in a free edge at the otherend thereof; and a sixth wall connected to said housing at one endthereof and terminating in a free edge at the other end thereof.
 3. Acoin slot as defined in claim 1 wherein said first, second, third andfourth walls are uniform in cross-sectional shape along the lengththereof whereby the walls can be formed by extrusion.
 4. A coin slotdevice as defined in claim 1 wherein said coin slot device is uniform incross-sectional shape whereby it may be formed by extrusion.
 5. A coinslot device as defined in claim 1 wherein said free edges of said firstand second walls are tapered in cross-section along the length thereof.6. A coin slot device as defined in claim 1 wherein the free edges ofsaid first, second, third and fourth walls forms an access means forfreeing coins which become lodged in said coin slot device.
 7. A coinslot device as defined in claim 6 wherein said housing is of a one piececonstruction.
 8. A coin slot device comprising: a housing; a firstsubstantially planar wall connected to said housing at one end thereofand terminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, said secondwall lying in substantially the same plane as said first wall; a secondsubstantially planar wall connected to said housing at one end thereofand terminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, said secondwall lying in substantially the same plane as said first wall; coinsupporting means connected to said housing and spaced from said firstand second walls; a coin slot opening disposed between the first andsecond substantially plaNar walls and the coin supporting means, saidcoin slot opening having at least two substantially planar sides forguiding substantially flat sides of a coin; and wherein the free edgesof said first and second walls are thinner than the remainder of saidfirst and second walls.
 9. A coin slot device as defined in claim 8wherein said free edges of said first and second walls are of a taperedconfiguration in cross-section.
 10. A coin slot device as defined inclaim 8 wherein an opening is defined by a space between said supportmeans and said first and second walls, said opening being wider at thefree edges of said first and second walls because of the thinnerconfiguration of said free edges with respect to said first and secondwalls, to thereby serve a guiding function for a coin passing throughsaid coin slot device.
 11. A coin slot device as defined in claim 8wherein said coin slot opening is substantially rectangular incross-sectional shape.
 12. A coin slot device comprising: a housing; afirst wall connected to said housing at one end thereof and terminatingin a free edge at the other end thereof; a second wall connected to saidhousing at one end thereof and terminating in a free edge at the otherend thereof, said second wall lying in substantially the same plane assaid first wall; coin supporting means connected to said housing andspaced from said first and second walls to form thereby a coin slotwhereby a coin passing through said coin slot is guided between saidsupporting means and said first and second walls, and wherein the freeedges of said first and second walls are thinner than the remainder ofsaid first and second walls; a third wall connected to said housing atone end thereof and terminating in a free edge at the other end thereof:and a fourth wall connected to said housing at one end thereof andterminating in a free edge at the other end thereof, said fourth walllying in substantially the same plane as said third wall, and whereinthe free edges of said third and fourth walls are thinner than theremainder of said third and fourth walls.